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Kirkoswald is
a small Village 13 miles south of Ayr, on
the main A77 road.
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The most popular attraction in the
Village is the Old Cottage of Souter
Johnnie that is now a Museum,
free to visit.
This is where the poet Robert Burns
was inspired to write his classic poem,
Tam O Shanter.
Burns spent a summer in Kirkoswald in
1775, when he was about 16, said to be
with his grandparents to learn
mathematics at a school in the Village.
Burns mother, Agnes Broun, was born and
raised in Kirkoswald.
Burns time in the Village, saw him
observe some of the local characters, and
turn them into an interesting story.
Douglas Graham, who rented a farm
named Shanter, became Tam O Shanter, John
Davidson, owner of the Cottage and the
local Shoemaker, or Souter as it was
known then, became Souter Johnnie, and
Jean Kennedy, who ran a small Inn with
her sister, named Kirkton, became Kirkton
Jean.
The Old Church in Kirkoswald was built
around 1244, said to be by monks from
Crossraguel Abbey, two miles
north. The Old Church Graveyard contains
the resting places of Burns Relations,
Tam O Shanter, Souter Johnnie, Kirkton
Jean, and his teacher Hugh Rodger.
There is a Plaque on the Auld Kirk
gate that shows where each Historic Grave
is situated, also there is a small Plaque
at each Grave saying who they are as the
old Gravestones are hard to read.
Kirkoswald, along with other small
towns down this coast, were well known
for smuggling when Burns stayed there.
The Government had imposed heavy taxes on
imported goods around that time, such as
gin, tea, brandy, and textiles. Smuggling
was the way to avoid taxation. Douglas
Graham / Tam O Shanter was said to be a
Smuggler.
The New Church at Kirkoswald was built
in 1777, designed by Robert Adam. The New
Church sits high above the Old Church,
about 200 yards to the east. Large trees
now block the views between the two
Churches.
The Kirkton Inn and Shanter Inn, were
rebuilt in about 2007 to serve as a
tearoom, diner, and cake and ice cream
parlour. The Kirkton was Peggies Tearoom
but is now a shop. The Shanter is now
named Souter’s
Inn.
The Whiskey
Experience opened in Kirkoswald in
about 2010, offering a wide range of rare
whiskies, tasting sessions, and you can
fill your own bottle straight from a
cask, strong stuff.
Video of
Robert Burns places with the graves in
Kirkoswald.
Kirkoswald Auld Kirk Large Image
For Ayrshire accommodation, Ayrshire
click on map, and all Ayrshire and the
Islands attractions, visit the link
below.
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Kirkoswald Parish Church